Variation in mitochondrial DNA and allozymes discriminates early and late forms of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, AK

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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Abstract

Genetic differences between early and late forms of Alaskan chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were identified using two genetic approaches: mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, and protein electrophoresis. Study populations consisted of early and late runs in each of the Kenai and Kasilof rivers in Alaska, and a population from the Minam River, Oregon. Two segments of mtDNA were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digested with 14–16 restriction enzymes. Results showed that early runs were genetically similar to each other but different from the late runs. The late runs were different from each other based on the frequency of the common haplotypes. Frequency differences in shared haplotypes together with the presence of a unique haplotype separated the Minam River stock from those in Alaska. In the protein analysis, each population was examined at 30 allozyme loci. Based on 14 polymorphic loci, Minam River salmon were genetically distinct from the Alaskan populations. Within the Alaskan populations, early runs were most similar to each other but different from the late runs; the late runs were also genetically most similar to each other. Both mtDNA and allozyme analysis suggest that chinook salmon may segregate into genetically different early and late forms within a drainage.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Variation in mitochondrial DNA and allozymes discriminates early and late forms of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, AK
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/f94-303
Volume 51
Issue S1
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher NRC Research Press
Contributing office(s) Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 10 p.
First page 172
Last page 181
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Kasilof River, Kenai River, Minam River
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